UTC cagers nip Vols

IT Staff

12/05/2004

Tennessee's basketball team could be in for a long season.

The Vols (2-3) lost for the third time in the past four games Sunday at
Thompson-Boling Arena, suffering a shocking 69-68 setback to UT-Chattanooga
that ended a 23-game Big Orange winning streak in the series. Chattanooga's
last previous win occurred in 1925.

Tennessee lost by shooting poorly. The Vols hit just 33.3 percent of their
first half shots and finished at 40.4 for the game.

Scooter McFadgon was ice cold, hitting just three of 17 field-goal tries,
including two of nine from beyond the 3-point arc. Freshman Chris Lofton,
UT's other backcourt bomber, also struggled. He hit just one of five floor
shots, including one of four behind the arc.

Lofton's lone bucket was a clutch 3-pointer that gave Tennessee a 68-66 lead
with 1:37 left. However, Chris Brown answered with a trey that put UTC on
top 69-68 with 1:16 to go. McFadgon had two chances to give the Vols the
lead in the final minute but misfired each time.

C.J. Watson was a bright spot for Tennessee, hitting 7 of 17 shots en route
to a game-high 19 points. He also had five assists.

McFadgon, who was 6 of 6 from the foul line, chipped in 14 points and a
team-high 10 rebounds. Brandon Crump contributed 10 points.

Mindaugas Katelynas had 17 points and nine rebounds to pace UTC, now 3-2.
The Mocs shot 44.4 percent from the floor but hit 50 percent (12 of 24) from
3-point range.